Council of Antioch (in Encaeniis)

Canon 1 — De his qui contraria gerunt his quae regulariter de Pascha statuta sunt in Nicaeno concilio.

Omnes qui ausi fuerint dissolvere definitionem sancti et magni concilii quod apud Nicaeam congregatum est, sub praesentia piissimi et venerandi principis Constantini, de salutifera solemnitate sacratissimae Paschae, excommunicandos, et de Ecclesia pellendos esse censemus, si tamen contentiosius adversus ea quae bene sunt decreta perstiterint: et haec quidem de laicis dicta sint. Si quis autem eorum qui praeesse noscuntur Ecclesiae, aut episcopus, aut presbyter, aut diaconus, post hanc definitionem tentaverit ad subversionem populorum, Ecclesiarumque perturbationem, seorsum colligere, et cum Judaeis Pascha celebrare: sancta synodus hunc alienum jam hinc ab Ecclesia judicavit, quod non solum sibi, sed et plurimis causa corruptionis et perturbationis exstiterit. Nec solum tales a ministerio removet, sed etiam illos qui post damnationem hujusmodi communicare tentaverint: damnatos autem omni quoque extrinsecus honore privari, quem sancta regula, et sacerdotium Dei promeruit.

Whosoever shall presume to set aside the decree of the holy and great Synod which was assembled at Nice in the presence of the pious Emperor Constantine, beloved of God, concerning the holy and salutary feast of Easter; if they shall obstinately persist in opposing what was [then] rightly ordained, let them be excommunicated and cast out of the Church; this is said concerning the laity. But if any one of those who preside in the Church, whether he be bishop, presbyter, or deacon, shall presume, after this decree, to exercise his own private judgment to the subversion of the people and to the disturbance of the churches, by observing Easter [at the same time] with the Jews, the holy Synod decrees that he shall thenceforth be an alien from the Church, as one who not only heaps sins upon himself, but who is also the cause of destruction and subversion to many; and it deposes not only such persons themselves from their ministry, but those also who after their deposition shall presume to communicate with them. And the deposed shall be deprived even of that external honour, of which the holy Canon and God's priesthood partake.

Canon 2 — De his qui se a perceptione sanctae communionis avertunt, et qui excommunicatis per domos communicant.

Omnes qui ingrediuntur Ecclesiam Dei, et Scripturas sacras audiunt, nec communicant in oratione cum populo, sed pro quadam intemperantia se a perceptione sanctae communionis avertunt: hi de Ecclesia removeantur, quandiu per confessionem poenitentiae fructus ostendant, et precibus indulgentiam consequantur. Cum excommunicatis autem non licere communicare; nec cum his qui per domos conveniunt, devitantes orationes Ecclesiae, simul orandum est: ab alia quoque Ecclesia non suscipiendum, qui in alia minime congregatur. Si quis autem de episcopis, aut presbyteris, vel diaconis, seu quilibet ex clero deprehensus fuerit cum excommunicatis communicare, etiam iste privetur communione, tanquam qui regulam confundat Ecclesiae.

All who enter the church of God and hear the Holy Scriptures, but do not communicate with the people in prayers, or who turn away, by reason of some disorder, from the holy partaking of the Eucharist, are to be cast out of the Church, until, after they shall have made confession, and having brought forth the fruits of penance, and made earnest entreaty, they shall have obtained forgiveness; and it is unlawful to communicate with excommunicated persons, or to assemble in private houses and pray with those who do not pray in the Church; or to receive in one Church those who do not assemble with another Church. And, if any one of the bishops, presbyters, or deacons, or any one in the Canon shall be found communicating with excommunicated persons, let him also be excommunicated, as one who brings confusion on the order of the Church.

Canon 3 — De his qui ab alia parochia praeter conscientiam episcoporum suorum, in aliis immorantur.

Si quis presbyter, aut diaconus, et omnino quilibet ex clero, parochiam propriam deserens, ad aliam properaverit: dein omnino demigrans, in alia parochia per multa tempora nititur immorari, ulterius ibidem non ministret: maxime, si vocanti suo episcopo, et regredi ad propriam parochiam commonenti obedire contempserit. Quod si in hac indisciplinatione perdurat, a ministerio modis omnibus removeatur: ita ut nequaquam locum restitutionis inveniat. Si vero pro hac causa damnatum alter episcopus suscipiat, hic etiam a communi coerceatur synodo, velut qui ecclesiastica constituta dissolvat.

If any presbyter or deacon, or any one whatever belonging to the priesthood, shall forsake his own parish, and shall depart, and, having wholly changed his residence, shall set himself to remain for a long time in another parish, let him no longer officiate; especially if his own bishop shall summon and urge him to return to his own parish and he shall disobey. And if he persist in his disorder, let him be wholly deposed from his ministry, so that no further room be left for his restoration. And if another bishop shall receive a man deposed for this cause, let him be punished by the Common Synod as one who nullifies the ecclesiastical laws.

Canon 4 — De damnatis, et ministrare tentantibus.

Si quis episcopus damnatus a synodo, vel presbyter, aut diaconus, a suo episcopo ausi fuerint aliquid de ministerio sacro contingere: sive episcopus, juxta praecedentem consuetudinem, sive presbyter, aut diaconus, nullo modo liceat ei, nec in alia synodo, restitutionis spem aut locum habere satisfactionis: sed et communicantes ei omnes abjici de Ecclesia, et maxime si posteaquam didicerint adversum memoratos prolatam fuisse sententiam, eisdem communicare tentaverint.

If any bishop who has been deposed by a synod, or any presbyter or deacon who has been deposed by his bishop shall presume to execute any part of the ministry, whether it be a bishop according to his former custom, or a presbyter, or a deacon, he shall no longer have any prospect of restoration in another Synod; nor any opportunity of making his defence; but they who communicate with him shall all be cast out of the Church, and particularly if they have presumed to communicate with the persons aforementioned, knowing the sentence pronounced against them.

Canon 5 — De his qui se a ministerio ecclesiastico subtrahunt, et seorsum colligunt.

Si quis presbyter, aut diaconus, episcopum proprium contemnens, se ab Ecclesia sequestravit, et seorsum colligens altare constituit, et commonenti episcopo non acquieverit, nec consentire vel obedire voluerit semel, et iterum convocanti: hic damnetur omnimodo, nec ultra remedium consequatur, quia suam recipere non potest dignitatem. Quod si Ecclesiam conturbare et sollicitare persistat, tanquam seditiosus, per potestates exteras opprimatur.

If any presbyter or deacon, despising this own bishop, has separated himself from the Church, and gathered a private assembly, and set up an altar; and if, when summoned by his bishop, he shall refuse to be persuaded and will not obey, even though he summon him a first and a second time, let such an one be wholly deposed and have no further remedy, neither be capable of regaining his rank. And if he persist in troubling and disturbing the Church, let him be corrected, as a seditious person, by the civil power.

Canon 6 — De clericis excommunicatis et laicis.

Si quis a proprio episcopo communione privatus est, non ante suscipiatur ab aliis, quam suo reconcilietur episcopo, aut certe ad synodum, quae congregatur, occurrens pro se satisfaciat, et persuadens concilio sententiam suscipiat alteram. Haec autem definitio maneat circa laicos, et presbyteros, et diaconos, omnesque qui sub regula esse monstrantur.

If any one has been excommunicated by his own bishop, let him not be received by others until he has either been restored by his own bishop, or until, when a synod is held, he shall have appeared and made his defence, and, having convinced the synod, shall have received a different sentence. And let this decree apply to the laity, and to presbyters and deacons, and all who are enrolled in the clergy-list.

Canon 7 — De peregrinorum susceptione.

Nullus peregrinorum sine pacificis, id est, commendatitiis suscipiatur epistolis.

No stranger shall be received without letters pacifical.

Canon 8 — De pacificis peregrinorum, id est commendatitiis litteris.

Presbyteri qui sunt in agris canonicas epistolas dare non possunt, ad solos tantum vicinos episcopos litteras destinabunt. Chorepiscopi autem qui sunt irreprehensibiles, dare possunt pacificas, id est generales epistolas.

Let not country presbyters give letters canonical, or let them send such letters only to the neighbouring bishops. But the chorepiscopi of good report may give letters pacifical.

Canon 9 — De metropolitanis singularum provinciarum.

Per singulas regiones episcopos convenit nosse, metropolitanum episcopum sollicitudinem totius provinciae gerere: propter quod ad metropolim omnes undique qui negotia videntur habere, concurrunt. Unde placuit eum et honore praecellere, et nihil amplius praeter eum caeteros episcopos agere, secundum antiquam a patribus nostris regulam constitutam: nisi ea tantum quae ad suam dioecesim pertinent, possessionesque subjectas. Unusquisque enim episcopus habeat suae parochiae potestatem, ut regat juxta reverentiam singulis competentem, et providentiam gerat omnis possessionis quae sub ejus est civitate: ita ut presbyteros et diaconos ordinet, et singula suo judicio comprehendat. Amplius autem nihil agere tentet, praeter antistitem metropolitanum, nec metropolitanus sine caeterorum gerat consilio sacerdotum.

It behoves the bishops in every province to acknowledge the bishop who presides in the metropolis, and who has to take thought for the whole province; because all men of business come together from every quarter to the metropolis. Wherefore it is decreed that he have precedence in rank, and that the other bishops do nothing extraordinary without him, (according to the ancient canon which prevailed from [the times of] our Fathers) or such things only as pertain to their own particular parishes and the districts subject to them. For each bishop has authority over his own parish, both to manage it with the piety which is incumbent on every one, and to make provision for the whole district which is dependent on his city; to ordain presbyters and deacons; and to settle everything with judgment. But let him undertake nothing further without the bishop of the metropolis; neither the latter without the consent of the others.

Canon 10 — De his qui vocantur chorepiscopi.

Qui in vicis vel possessionibus chorepiscopi nominantur, quamvis manus impositionem episcoporum perceperint, et ut episcopi consecrati sint, tamen sanctae synodo placuit, ut modum proprium recognoscant, ut gubernent subjectas sibi Ecclesias, earumque moderamine curaque contenti sint. Ordinent etiam lectores et subdiaconos atque exorcistas; quibus promotiones istae sufficiant. Nec presbyterum vero, nec diaconum audeant ordinare, praeter civitatis episcopum, cui ipse cum possessione subjectus est. Si quis autem transgredi statuta tentaverit, depositus, quo utebatur honore privetur. Chorepiscopum vero civitatis episcopus ordinet, cui ille subjectus est.

The Holy Synod decrees that persons in villages and districts, or those who are called chorepiscopi, even though they may have received ordination to the Episcopate, shall regard their own limits and manage the churches subject to them, and be content with the care and administration of these; but they may ordain readers, sub-deacons and exorcists, and shall be content with promoting these, but shall not presume to ordain either a presbyter or a deacon, without the consent of bishop of the city to which he and his district are subject. And if he shall dare to transgress [these] decrees, he shall be deposed from the rank which he enjoys. And a chorepiscopus is to be appointed by the bishop of the city to which he is subject.

Canon 11 — De episcopis et clericis adeuntibus imperatorem.

Si quis episcopus, aut presbyter, aut quilibet regulae subjectus Ecclesiae, praeter consilium et litteras episcoporum provinciae, et praecipue metropolitani, adierit imperatorem, hunc reprobari et abjici oportere, non solum a communione, verum et ab honore cujus particeps videtur existere. Quia venerandi principis auribus molestiam tentavit inferre, contra leges Ecclesiae. Si igitur adire principem necessaria causa deposcit, hoc agatur cum tractatu et consilio metropolitani, et caeterorum episcoporum qui in eadem provincia commorantur, qui etiam proficiscentem suis prosequantur epistolis.

If any bishop, or presbyter, or any one whatever of the canon shall presume to betake himself to the Emperor without the consent and letters of the bishop of the province, and particularly of the bishop of the metropolis, such a one shall be publicly deposed and cast out, not only from communion, but also from the rank which he happens to have; inasmuch as he dares to trouble the ears of our Emperor beloved of God, contrary to the law of the Church. But, if necessary business shall require any one to go to the Emperor, let him do it with the advice and consent of the metropolitan and other bishops in the province, and let him undertake his journey with letters from them.

Canon 12 — De damnatis episcopis, aut clericis adeuntibus imperatorem.

Si quis a proprio episcopo presbyter aut diaconus, aut a synodo fuerit episcopus forte damnatus, et imperatoris auribus molestus exstiterit: oportet ad majus episcoporum converti concilium, et quae putaverint habere justa, plurimis episcopis suggerant, eorumque discussiones ac judicia praestolentur. Si vero haec parvipendentes molesti fuerint imperatori, hos nulla venia dignos esse, nec locum satisfactionis habere, nec spem futurae restitutionis penitus opperiri.

If any presbyter or deacon deposed by his own bishop, or any bishop deposed by a synod, shall dare to trouble the ears of the Emperor, when it is his duty to submit his case to a greater synod of bishops, and to refer to more bishops the things which he thinks right, and to abide by the examination and decision made by them; if, despising these, he shall trouble the Emperor, he shall be entitled to no pardon, neither shall he have an opportunity of defence, nor any hope of future restoration.

Canon 13 — De his qui cum sunt ex alia provincia, in aliis audent ordinationes efficere.

Nullus episcopus ex alia provincia audeat ad aliam transgredi, et ad promotionem ministerii aliquos in Ecclesiis ordinare, licet consensum videantur praebere nonnulli: nisi litteris tam metropolitani, quam caeterorum, qui cum eo sunt, episcoporum, rogatus adveniat, et sic ad actionem ordinationis accedat. Si vero nullo vocante, inordinato more deproperet super aliquibus ordinationibus et ecclesiasticis negotiis, ad eum non pertinentibus, componendis, irrita quidem quae ab eo geruntur existant, ipse vero incompositi motus sui et irrationabilis audaciae subeat ultionem, ex hoc jam damnatus a sancto concilio.

No bishop shall presume to pass from one province to another, and ordain persons to the dignity of the ministry in the Church, not even should he have others with him, unless he should go at the written invitation of the metropolitan and bishops into whose country he goes. But if he should, without invitation, proceed irregularly to the ordination of any, or to the regulation of ecclesiastical affairs which do not concern him, the things done by him are null, and he himself shall suffer the due punishment of his irregularity and his unreasonable undertaking, by being forthwith deposed by the holy Synod.

Canon 14 — De dissensione quae super episcoporum dijudicatione contingit, appellantium provinciales antistites.

Si quis episcopus de certis criminibus judicetur, et contingat de eo provinciales episcopos dissidere, cum judicatus ab aliis innocens creditur, reus ab aliis: pro totius ambiguitatis absolutione, sanctae synodo placuit, ut metropolitanus episcopus a vicina provincia judices alios convocet, qui controversiam tollant, ut per eos simul et per provinciales episcopos, quod justum visum fuerit, approbetur.

If a bishop shall be tried on any accusations, and it should then happen that the bishops of the province disagree concerning him, some pronouncing the accused innocent, and others guilty; for the settlement of all disputes, the holy Synod decrees that the metropolitan call on some others belonging to the neighbouring province, who shall add their judgment and resolve the dispute, and thus, with those of the province, confirm what is determined.

Canon 15 — De episcopis ab ejusdem provinciae sacerdotibus consonanter exclusis.

Si quis episcopus de certis criminibus accusatus condemnetur ab omnibus episcopis ejusdem provinciae, cunctique consonanter eamdem contra eum formam decreti protulerint hunc, apud alios nullo modo judicari, sed firmam concordantium episcoporum provinciae manere sententiam.

If any bishop, lying under any accusation, shall be judged by all the bishops in the province, and all shall unanimously deliver the same verdict concerning him, he shall not be again judged by others, but the unanimous sentence of the bishops of the province shall stand firm.

Canon 16 — De vacantibus episcopis.

Si quis episcopus vacans in Ecclesiam vacantem prosiliat, sedemque pervadat absque integro perfectoque concilio, hic abjiciatur necesse est, etsi cunctus populus, quem diripuit, eum habere delegerit. Perfectum vero concilium illud est, ubi interfuerit metropolitanus antistes.

If any bishop without a see shall throw himself upon a vacant church and seize its throne, without a full synod, he shall be cast out, even if all the people over whom he has usurped jurisdiction should choose him. And that shall be [accounted] a full synod, in which the metropolitan is present.

Canon 17 — De his qui, cum ad episcopatum vocantur, evitant.

Si quis episcopus manus impositionem episcopatus acceperit, et, praeesse populo constitutus, ministerium subire neglexerit, nec acquieverit ire ad Ecclesiam sibi commissam: hunc oportet communione privari, donec susceperit coactus officium, aut certe de eo aliquid integra decreverit ejusdem provinciae synodus sacerdotum.

If any one having received the ordination of a bishop, and having been appointed to preside over a people, shall not accept his ministry, and will not be persuaded to proceed to the Church entrusted to him, he shall be excommunicated until he, being constrained, accept it, or until a full synod of the bishops of the province shall have determined concerning him.

Canon 18 — De his qui promoventur ad episcopatum, nec recipiuntur.

Si quis episcopus ordinatus ad parochiam minime cui est electus accesserit, non suo vitio, sed quod eum aut populus vitet, aut propter aliam causam, non tamen ejus vitio perpetratam: hic et honoris sit, et ministerii particeps, dummodo nil molestus Ecclesiae rebus existat, ubi ministrare cognoscitur. Quem etiam observare conveniet quidquid synodus perfecta provinciae, quod visum fuerit, judicando decreverit.

If any bishop ordained to a parish shall not proceed to the parish to which he has been ordained, not through any fault of his own, but either because of the rejection of the people, or for any other reason not arising from himself, let him enjoy his rank and ministry; only he shall not disturb the affairs of the Church which he joins; and he shall abide by whatever the full synod of the province shall determine, after judging the case.

Canon 19 — De episcopalibus in provinciis ordinationibus.

Episcopus praeter synodum et praesentiam metropolitani nullatenus ordinetur. Hoc autem modis omnibus coram posito melius quidem est, ut omnes simul adsint ejusdem provinciae sacerdotes: quos metropolitanus episcopus advocare debebit. Et si quidem omnes occurrerint, optime; quod si hoc difficile fuerit, saltem plures adesse omnimodo convenit: aut certe scriptis ejusdem sententiae comprobari, et ita sub plurimorum vel praesentia vel decreto ordinatio celebretur. Quod si secus contra definita factum fuerit, nullas ordinatio vires habeat; si vero juxta definitam regulam fiat, et nonnulli pro contentione propria contradicant, obtineat sententia plurimorum.

A bishop shall not be ordained without a synod and the presence of the metropolitan of the province. And when he is present, it is by all means better that all his brethren in the ministry of the Province should assemble together with him; and these the metropolitan ought to invite by letter. And it were better that all should meet; but if this be difficult, it is indispensable that a majority should either be present or take part by letter in the election, and that thus the appointment should be made in the presence, or with the consent, of the majority; but if it should be done contrary to these decrees, the ordination shall be of no force. And if the appointment shall be made according to the prescribed canon, and any should object through natural love of contradiction, the decision of the majority shall prevail.

Canon 20 — De synodis quae debent ab episcopis, suis temporibus, in provincia celebrari.

Propter utilitates ecclesiasticas, et absolutiones earum rerum quae dubitationem controversiamque recipiunt, optime placuit ut per singulas quasque provincias bis in anno episcoporum concilia celebrentur. Semel quidem post tertiam septimanam festi Paschalis: ita ut quarta septimana Pentecostes conveniat synodus, metropolitano provinciales episcopos admonente. Secunda vero synodus fiat idus Octobris, id est, quinto decimo die mensis Octobris, quem Hyperberetaeon Graeci cognominant. In ipsis autem conciliis adsint presbyteri, et diaconi, et omnes qui se laesos existimant: et synodi experiantur examen. Nullis vero liceat apud se celebrare concilia, praeter eos quibus a metropolitanis videntur esse jura commissa.

With a view to the good of the Church and the settlement of disputes, it is decreed to be well that synods of the bishops, (of which the metropolitan shall give notice to the provincials), should be held in every province twice a year, one after the third week of the feast of Easter, so that the synod may be ended in the fourth week of the Pentecost; and the second on the ides of October which is the tenth [or fifteenth] day of the month Hyperberetæus; so that presbyters and deacons, and all who think themselves unjustly dealt with, may resort to these synods and obtain the judgment of the synod. But it shall be unlawful for any to hold synods by themselves without those who are entrusted with the Metropolitan Sees.

Canon 21 — Ut nullo modo de parochia ad aliam parochiam episcopus transeat.

Episcopus ab alia parochia nequaquam migret ad aliam, nec sponte sua prorsus insiliens, nec vi coactus a populis, nec ab episcopo necessitate compulsus: maneat autem in Ecclesia quam primitus a Deo sortitus est, nec inde transmigret, secundum pristinum de hac re terminum constitutum.

A bishop may not be translated from one parish to another, either intruding himself of his own suggestion, or under compulsion by the people, or by constraint of the bishops; but he shall remain in the Church to which he was allotted by God from the beginning, and shall not be translated from it, according to the decree formerly passed on the subject.

Canon 22 — Ut in altera parochia clericos alterius parochiae episcopus nullatenus ordinet.

Episcopus alienam civitatem, quae non est illi subjecta, non adeat: nec ad possessionem accedat quae ad eum non pertinet super ordinatione cujusquam, nec constituat presbyteros aut diaconos alteri subjectos episcopo, nisi forte cum consilio et voluntate regionis episcopi. Si quis autem tale aliquid facere tentaverit, irrita sit ejus ordinatio, et ipse coerceatur a synodo, nam si ordinare non potuerit, nullatenus judicabit.

Let not a bishop go to a strange city, which is not subject to himself, nor into a district which does not belong to him, either to ordain any one, or to appoint presbyters or deacons to places within the jurisdiction of another bishop, unless with the consent of the proper bishop of the place. And if any one shall presume to do any such thing, the ordination shall be void, and he himself shall be punished by the synod.

Canon 23 — Ut nullus ad episcopatum pro se constituat promovendum.

Episcopo non licere pro se alterum successorem sibi constituere, licet ad exitum vitae perveniat: quod si tale aliquid factum fuerit, irritum esse hujuscemodi constitutum. Servetur autem jus ecclesiasticum, id continens oportere non aliter fieri, nisi eum synodo et judicio episcoporum, qui post obitum quiescentis potestatem habent, eum, qui dignus exstiterit, promovere.

It shall not be lawful for a bishop, even at the close of life, to appoint another as successor to himself; and if any such thing should be done, the appointment shall be void. But the ecclesiastical law must be observed, that a bishop must not be appointed otherwise than by a synod and with the judgment of the bishops, who have the authority to promote the man who is worthy, after the falling asleep of him who has ceased from his labours.

Canon 24 — De rebus ad Ecclesiam pertinentibus, et de his quae propria episcopi esse noscuntur.

Quae sunt Ecclesiae, sub omni sollicitudine, et conscientia bona, et fide quae in Deum est, qui cuncta considerat, judicatque, serventur, quae etiam dispensanda sunt judicio et potestate pontificis cui commissus est populus, et animae quae intra Ecclesiam congregantur. Manifesta vero sint, quae pertinere videntur ad Ecclesiam, cum notitia presbyterorum et diaconorum qui circa ipsum sunt: ita ut agnoscant, nec ignorent, quae sint Ecclesiae propria, nec eos aliquid lateat. Ut si contigerit episcopum migrare de saeculo, certis existentibus rebus, quae sunt Ecclesiae, nec ipsae collapsae depereant, nec quae propria probantur episcopi, sub occasione rerum pervadantur Ecclesiae. Justum namque, et acceptum est coram Deo et hominibus, ut sua episcopus quibus voluerit, derelinquat, et quae Ecclesiae sunt, eidem conserventur Ecclesiae, ut nec Ecclesia aliquod patiatur incommodum, nec episcopus sub occasione proscribatur Ecclesiae, et in causas incidant, qui ad eum pertinent, et ipse post obitum maledictionibus ingravetur.

It is right that what belongs to the Church be preserved with all care to the Church, with a good conscience and faith in God, the inspector and judge of all. And these things ought to be administered under the judgment and authority of the bishop, who is entrusted with the whole people and with the souls of the congregation. But it should be manifest what is church property, with the knowledge of the presbyters and deacons about him; so that these may know assuredly what things belong to the Church, and that nothing be concealed from them, in order that, when the bishop may happen to depart this life, the property belonging to the Church being well known, may not be embezzled nor lost, and in order that the private property of the bishop may not be disturbed on a pretence that it is part of the ecclesiastical goods. For it is just and well-pleasing to God and man that the private property of the bishop be bequeathed to whomsoever he will, but that for the Church be kept whatever belongs to the Church; so that neither the Church may suffer loss, nor the bishop be injured under pretext of the Church's interest, nor those who belong to him fall into lawsuits, and himself, after his death, be brought under reproach.

Canon 25 — Ut episcopus dispensandi res ecclesiasticas habeat potestatem.

Episcopus ecclesiasticarum rerum habeat potestatem, ad dispensandum erga omnes qui indigent, cum summa reverentia et timore Dei. Participet autem et ipse quibus indiget, si tamen indiget, tam suis, quam fratrum, qui ab eo suscipiuntur, necessariis usibus profuturis, ita ut in nulla qualibet occasione fraudentur, juxta sanctum Apostolum sic dicentem: Habentes victum et tegumentum, his contenti sumus. Quod si contentus istis minime fuerit, convertat autem res Ecclesiae in suos usus domesticos, et ejus commoda vel agrorum fructus, non cum presbyterorum conscientia diaconorumque pertractet, sed horum potestatem domesticis suis, aut propinquis, aut fratribus, filiisque committat: ut per hujusmodi personas occulte caeterae laedantur Ecclesiae, synodo provinciae poenas iste persolvat. Si autem et aliter accusetur episcopus, aut presbyteri qui cum ipso sunt, quod ea quae pertinent ad Ecclesiam, vel ex agris, vel ex alia qualibet ecclesiastica facultate sibimet usurpent, ita ut ex hoc affligantur quidem pauperes criminationi vero et blasphemiis tam sermo praedicationis, quam hi qui dispensant, taliter exponantur: et hos oportet corrigi, sancta synodo, id quod condecet, approbante.

Let the bishop have power over the funds of the Church, so as to dispense them with all piety and in the fear of God to all who need. And if there be occasion, let him take what he requires for his own necessary uses and those of his brethren sojourning with him, so that they may in no way lack, according to the divine Apostle, who says, "Having food and raiment, let us therewith be content." And if he shall not be content with these, but shall apply the funds to his own private uses, and not manage the revenues of the Church, or the rent of the farms, with the consent of the presbyters and deacons, but shall give the authority to his own domestics and kinsmen, or brothers, or sons, so that the accounts of the Church are secretly injured, he himself shall submit to an investigation by the synod of the province. But if, on the other hand, the bishop or his presbyters shall be defamed as appropriating to themselves what belongs to the Church, (whether from lands or any other ecclesiastical resources), so that the poor are oppressed, and accusation and infamy are brought upon the account and on those who so administer it, let them also be subject to correction, the holy synod determining what is right.